The first night I tried to achieve lucidity was an epic failure. The dreams I had were so weird and messed up, that I can't believe I didn't realize I was dreaming.

My second night of making an attempt, I remember doing a reality check in the dream. I could breathe while my nose and mouth were shut, but I dont remember having an AH HA moment or a sudden burst of realizaton. I do remember being able to slightly influence the enviornment of the dream though. Was this a lucid dream, or will I not have to ask if I have had a real one?

When you realize your dream is as real as the "waking life", you'll know you are in a fully lucid dreams. There are times where you will realize it is a dream but you do not have an active conscious in it.

When it is fully on, you will know.

Honestly, when you are fully lucid, it would be like sitting right where you are right now, but if you were to reread this sentence it would be different words. (then again I have read the same line a couple of times in a lucid dream and it did not change) That is when you know you are dreaming, but everything has characteristics as real as the waking life.